by William M. Welch, USA TODAY

by William M. Welch, USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES â?? A California judge sentenced two men to prison Thursday for the brutal 2011 opening day beating of a San Francisco Giants fan at Dodger Stadium, calling them "the biggest nightmare'' of fans at sporting events.

Superior Court Judge George Lomeli sternly lectured Louis Sanchez and Marvin Norwood in a crowded courtroom after they entered guilty pleas for the beating that left Bryan Stow brain-damaged and permanently disabled.

Stow, 45, a Santa Cruz paramedic and father of two, was leaving Dodger Stadium after the March 31, 2011, opening game when he was attacked from behind. Prosecutors said Sanchez knocked Stow unconscious during an unprovoked attacked in the stadium's parking lot.

He suffered severe brain trauma and will require long-term care and 24-hour assistance for the rest of his life.

Sanchez, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of mayhem and was sentenced to eight years in prison. Norwood, 33, was sentenced to four years in state prison after pleading guilty to assault.

Both will get credit for time already served in jail, and in Norwood's case that may be enough to allow his immediate release, Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee said. But both still face federal weapons charges.

"You are the biggest nightmare for people who attend public events," Superior Court Judge George Lomeli told the pair, calling them cowards who instill fear in sports fans.

"You not only ruined the life of Mr. Stow (but) his children, his family, his friends," the judge said.

Stow's family spoke before sentencing and described his daily suffering as a result of the attack.

"Prison is what you cretins deserve,'' said David Stow, the victim's father.

Sister Bonnie Stow described his life "after you brutally and cowardly attacked him.''

"We shower him, we dress him, we fix his meals," she said. "We make sure he gets his 13 medications throughout the day. He takes two different anti-seizure medications to prevent the seizures he endured for months."

The beating prompted public outrage and led to increased security at Dodgers' games.

The pair was charged after a massive manhunt and at least one mistaken arrest. They were convicted in part based on secretly recorded jailhouse conversations in which they discussed the attack.